Pop Icon Cyndi Lauper Battles Secret Illness: The Painful Truth Behind Her ‘True Colors

There’s something magical about Cyndi Lauper, the lively artist behind the 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” a song that quickly became a global anthem, encouraging women everywhere to embrace fun and freedom.

Lauper is the definition of cool. Her quirky, carefree personality, playful fashion, and colorful hair inspire people with her message to always be yourself.

However, behind the playful voice that spreads joy to her listeners, Lauper battles a severe skin condition called psoriasis. At one point, it was so intense that, as she described, “It looked like someone threw boiling water on me.”

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The legendary pop star, now 69, recently opened up about her ongoing battle with psoriasis—a chronic skin condition that has no cure—since she was first diagnosed in 2010.

Psoriasis can cause severe pain, itching, discomfort, and rough, scaly patches on the skin. About 8 million people in the U.S. and 125 million globally live with this condition.

Lauper’s symptoms started as scalp irritation and general discomfort, which worsened over time.

Initially, she thought her itchy scalp was from frequently coloring her hair, but the symptoms continued, causing both physical pain and emotional strain for the award-winning musician.

The “Time after Time” singer is a busy mother, touring pop star, and activist.

Inspired by her sister Ellen, who is a lesbian, Lauper has become a strong supporter of LGBT rights, working tirelessly to advocate for the community.

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Her 2005 song “Above the Clouds” was written in honor of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student who was beaten to death in Wyoming. Lauper also started the “True Colors” concert tour in 2007-2008, which raises support for local and private LGBT charities and organizations.

Besides her advocacy, Lauper has an impressive career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. Over the past forty years, she has received many awards, including a Tony Award, two Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award, and an Emmy Award for her role in a 1995 episode of the TV show *Mad About You*.

She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2013, her humanitarian work earned her a special invitation to attend President Barack Obama’s second inauguration.

Despite her diagnosis, Lauper continues to stay strong. She is committed to not letting psoriasis hold her back and works on managing stress to avoid triggering flare-ups.

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When she was first diagnosed and dealing with severe psoriasis, Lauper wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical *Kinky Boots*, which won her a Tony Award for Best Original Score. She became the first woman to win a Tony in that category on her own. The show also won five more Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.

In a conversation with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Lauper openly shared her experience living with the autoimmune skin condition, hoping her story might help others.

“I’ve never been able to really manage stress,” she admitted, explaining that she now takes a holistic approach to healing and stress relief both at home and on the road. She learned reiki, a Japanese technique for relaxation, saying, “That helps me.”

Along with reiki, Lauper works to stay grounded by meditating, practicing yoga, or taking walks in the fresh air with her dog and her husband, David Thornton, whom she married in 1991. The couple has one son, born in 1997.

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“It’s not a bad thing to take care of yourself,” Lauper said, urging people to always “make a little time for you.”

She encourages starting small. “How about five minutes for you?” she added.

Lauper speaks with resilience about her experience, explaining that “when psoriasis gets really bad, it’s really hard to get up again.” She shared that at times, she couldn’t regulate her body temperature, leading to chills that could result in hypothermia. Even when resting, her condition only worsened, and hearing people dismiss it as “just a rash” added to her struggles.

“You don’t have to suffer,” Lauper said. Treatments, such as topical and oral medication or injections, can help ease the often unbearable symptoms of psoriasis. For Lauper, she found relief with Novartis’ Cosentyx, and as a spokesperson for the medication, she happily shares that she’s been “four years clear.”

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In 2017, Lauper spoke with HealthDay about managing her psoriasis.

“It’s funny—you start wearing gloves, or this and that, hoping [psoriasis] is invisible, but it’s not. I didn’t show it off, like, ‘Woo-hoo, check this out!’ Doesn’t everyone try to hide it? You’d be surprised how many people have it and don’t talk about it. It’s one of those invisible things, so it’s good to talk about it.”

She shares more about it on her podcast *PsO in the Know*, where she talks with celebrities, advocates, and everyday people who offer insights on living with psoriasis.

The show is now in its third season and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pandora, and Stitcher.

Lauper isn’t the only celebrity with psoriasis. Kim Kardashian, now 42, was diagnosed at 30 and is open about her challenges. Her mom, Kris Jenner, 67, had her first outbreak in her late 20s and said it was “life-changing.” Other celebrities with psoriasis include musician Art Garfunkel, 81, actor Jon Lovitz, 65, and Jerry Mathers, 74, known as “The Beaver.”

FANS STUNNED: JASON MOMOA’S NEW 12-YEAR-YOUNGER GIRLFRIEND RESEMBLES HIS EX-WIFE

Jason Momoa’s new relationship is making waves in the news after he posted pictures of his girlfriend, who is also well-known.

Fans have been talking about how his new girlfriend looks similar to his ex-wife and even his daughter. Some people think it’s odd that his girlfriend looks like his teenage daughter.

Jason Momoa has confirmed that he’s dating again. With his new girlfriend’s photos spreading online, people are comparing her to his family members. Some say his ex is more beautiful, while others find it uncomfortable that his new girlfriend resembles his child.

Jason Momoa is famous for his role in the 2018 film “Aquaman,” where he starred with Amber Heard. They both returned for the sequel in 2023.

He has also acted with Vin Diesel, Tyrese Gibson, Michelle Rodriguez, and Gal Gadot in the popular movie “Fast X.”

Besides his successful acting career, Jason Momoa’s love life has also attracted a lot of public interest. He has been romantically linked to several well-known women over the years.

Jason Momoa was married to Lisa Bonet, who is famous for her role on “The Cosby Show.” They became a well-known couple. They started dating in 2005 after friends introduced them to each other.

At the time, Lisa Bonet was 12 years older than Jason Momoa and was a single mom raising her teenage daughter, Zoë Kravitz, from her previous marriage to Lenny Kravitz.

Momoa built a close bond with both Zoë and Lenny. He affectionately calls Zoë “Zozo bear,” and she calls him “Papa bear.” Momoa also has a lot of respect for Lenny Kravitz, and the feeling is mutual.

Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet got married in October 2017. They have two children together: a daughter named Lola and a son named Nakoa-Wolf. Both kids are now teenagers.

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In a 2018 interview, Jason Momoa talked about how much he enjoyed his marriage with Lisa Bonet. He said she was very funny and quirky, which made him laugh a lot. He also praised her for being a great mom and said they were a “perfect fit.”

However, after being together for 16 years and married for four of those years, Momoa and Bonet announced they were separating in January 2022. They explained that they were going through big changes and that their love was evolving.

They said in a joint statement, “We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times… A revolution is unfolding and our family is no exception… feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring.”

The couple’s breakup surprised many fans, and later, it was revealed what led to their separation.

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Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet’s split happened because they had different priorities. A source revealed that Momoa was very focused on his career and enjoyed the success it brought him. Meanwhile, Bonet wanted to stay in Los Angeles and focus on health and wellness. Their different lifestyles led them to drift apart.

Two years after they announced their separation, Bonet filed for divorce in January 2024. She mentioned “irreconcilable differences” and said they separated in October 2020. The court quickly approved their divorce. They had already agreed on the terms, including joint custody of their children and no child or spousal support.

After the divorce, Momoa briefly dated Mexican singer and actress Eiza Gonzalez. Their relationship ended in June 2022, partly because they were at different stages in their lives.

Since then, Momoa has started a new relationship. At a Comic Con event in May 2024, he confirmed he was dating someone but kept her identity private. He later shared photos from a trip to Japan with some friends, including a woman who might be his new partner.

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Jason Momoa shared his gratitude on social media, thanking everyone who welcomed them into their homes and made new memories together. In the post, he went public with his new relationship with Puerto Rican actress Adria Arjona. Arjona, who is 12 years younger than Momoa, was featured in several photos, including one where she is smiling and sitting on his lap.

Their relationship has caught the attention of many fans, who are excited to follow their love story as they continue to share moments from their lives together.

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